As you know, on BBO, players alert their own bids. This is called "self-alerting" and it is opposite to the approach we use at the bridge club. Similarly, we announce our own bids too.  If you have any doubt as to whether one of your bids should be alerted or announced then it is wise to alert/announce.

Furthermore, we don't use the 'Table' chat line to explain/alert the bid.  Instead, we alert our own bids, just before we make the bid, using the Alert line in the virtual bidding box.  This is key, as it ensures that you are not inadvertently telling your Partner what your bid means.  By the same token, if the opposition make a bid which you want explained, just click on the bid on the table and they will be asked to explain it.  In both these scenarios the Partner of the player alerting/announcing can't see the explanation.

If you have alerted/announced a bid and the opposition click on the bid again they are asking for a more fulsome explanation.  So, for example, if you are in a bidding sequence which you have alerted as Blackwood the opposition may click on the responses to request a more specific description, i.e. exactly how many aces are being shown.  Similarly, if you have alerted a bid and the opposition click on the 'Explain' button, please don't give them the same explanation again, give more details.

For more information on alerting/announcing you may find this YouTube clip useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5d7dBV1pmk&feature=youtu.be

You will find the 'undo' button in the blue box with three white lines on it.  The only acceptable time to ask for an 'undo' is when you have misclicked during the bidding.  Tudor has now instituted a policy of accepting an 'undo' during the bidding and not during the play.  If you make a poor bid or play or for any other reason, it is inappropriate to ask for an undo.  By the same token, please remember that if your opposition ask for an 'undo' they may be playing on a mobile phone or tablet and have had a 'sausage fingers' moment.  It is considered good manners to forgive such mishaps and let the opposition rebid  as they had intended to do.  If you feel this privilege is being abused please call the director (you will find the 'call the director' button in the blue box with 3 white lines on it).  

 

At the 'virtual bridge table' we try to retain all the courtesies we would practice at the real bridge club.  Here are a few examples of the sort of messages you can type on the Table chat line (speech marks are used only to make reading easier, we don't use these online):-

- when Partner has won the contract it is customary to send a brief message to wish them luck - 'glp', meaning 'good luck Partner'

- when you are declarer and Partner's dummy hand becomes visible we thank them for it - 'typ' or 'tup', meaning 'thank you Partner

- Partner plays the hand well and we congratulate them - 'wpp', meaning 'well played Partner'

- Partner goes off in a contract and we console them - 'blp' meaning 'bad luck Partner', or 'hlp' meaning 'hard luck Partner'

- the opposition make their contract, again we send congratulations - 'wpo' meaning 'well played opposition'

- the opposition go off in their contract, you can send your condolences - 'blo' meaning 'bad luck opposition' or 'hlo' meaning 'hard luck opposition'